Spiral Galaxies: Evolution and Consequences

    General
    Description

    Our small group is well known and respected internationally for our innovative and important work on various aspects of the structure and evolution of nearby spiral galaxies. We primarily use observations at various wavelengths, exploiting synergies that allow us to answer the most pertinent questions relating to what the main properties of galaxies are, and how galaxies have evolved to their current state. We use imaging and spectroscopy, at UV, optical, infrared, millimetre, and radio wavelengths, fully exploiting observing facilities available to us in Spain, at ESO, or elsewhere, along with state-of-the-art analysis tools. The success of this approach can be measured from the employment opportunities offered to ex-members of the group, from the number and quality of collaborations with leading external scientists, from continued citation of our published work, and from invitations to co-organise or speak at the leading international conferences in the field.

    In the last few years our group has put a lot of effort into opening up joint research lines with computer scientists, recognising the paradigm shift that is upon us due to the enormous quantities of data that will soon be produced by facilities such as LSST, Euclid, and SKA. We collaborate with computer scientists and aim to prepare the analysis tools, including detection of structure from noise, correction for scattered light and Galactic cirrus, and the use of machine learning-based techniques, so that once LSST (2020) and Euclid (2023) start releasing their huge data sets, our group is ready to analyse them and extract the science from the oceans of bytes.

    Principal investigator
    Project staff
    1. From thermal and non-thermal radio maps of the centre of NGC 1097, we discovered that the massive star formation is quenched by non-thermal effects, including pressure from the magnetic field, cosmic rays and turbulence.
    2. In the centre of NGC 7742, we found a slightly warped inner disk, and two separate stellar components: an old population that counter-rotates with the gas, and a young one, concentrated to the ring, that co-rotates with the gas.
    3. We re-analysed our deep IR imaging of thick disks to correct for the extended S4G point spread function (PSF), confirming all our previous results and in particular confirming the significant mass present in the thick disk component.
    4. Analysing a new high-resolution e-MERLIN 1.5 GHz radio continuum map together with HST and SDSS imaging of NGC 5322, an elliptical galaxy hosting radio jets, we found that the low-luminosity AGN/jet-driven feedback may have quenched the late-time nuclear star formation promptly.
    5. From MUSE observations of low-surface-brightness Lyman-α emission surrounding faint galaxies at redshifts between 3 and 6 we find that the projected sky coverage approaches 100 per cent.

    Related publications

    The James Clerk Maxwell Telescope Nearby Galaxies Legacy Survey. I. Star-Forming Molecular Gas in Virgo Cluster Spiral Galaxies 2009ApJ...693.1736W
    The Hα Galaxy Survey. VIII. Close Companions and Interactions, and the Definition of Starbursts 2009ApJ...698.1437K
    The Hα galaxy survey. VII. The spatial distribution of star formation within disks and bulges 2009A&A...501..207J
    The Hα Galaxy survey. IV. Star formation in the local Universe 2008A&A...482..507J
    Spectroscopy of the archetype colliding-wind binary WR 140 during the 2009 January periastron passage 2011MNRAS.418....2F
    Reconstructing the Stellar Mass Distributions of Galaxies Using S4G IRAC 3.6 and 4.5 μm Images. I. Correcting for Contamination by Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Hot Dust, and Intermediate-age Stars 2012ApJ...744...17M
    Photometric scaling relations of lenticular and spiral galaxies 2010MNRAS.405.1089L
    Nuclear Rings in Galaxies—a Kinematic Perspective 2011ApJ...739..104M
    Near-infrared atlas of S0-Sa galaxies (NIRS0S) 2011MNRAS.418.1452L
    Mid-infrared Galaxy Morphology from the Spitzer Survey of Stellar Structure in Galaxies (S4G): The Imprint of the De Vaucouleurs Revised Hubble-Sandage Classification System at 3.6 μm 2010ApJS..190..147B
    Do Bars Drive Spiral Density Waves? 2009AJ....137.4487B
    Decreased Frequency of Strong Bars in S0 Galaxies: Evidence for Secular Evolution? 2010ApJ...721..259B
    Bars, Ovals, and Lenses in Early-Type Disk Galaxies: Probes of Galaxy Evolution 2009ApJ...692L..34L
    Bars do Drive Spiral Density Waves 2010ApJ...715L..56S
    A pilot study for the SCUBA-2 `All-Sky' Survey 2011MNRAS.415.1950M
    A Connection between Star Formation in Nuclear Rings and Their Host Galaxies 2008ApJS..174..337M
    The SAURON project - XVIII. The integrated UV-line-strength relations of early-type galaxies 2011MNRAS.414.1887B
    The central region of M83: massive star formation, kinematics, and the location and origin of the nucleus 2010MNRAS.408..797K
    Stellar Kinematics in Double-Barred Galaxies: The σ-Hollows 2008ApJ...684L..83D
    Grand Design and Flocculent Spirals in the Spitzer Survey of Stellar Structure in Galaxies (S4G) 2011ApJ...737...32E
    Early-type Galaxies with Tidal Debris and Their Scaling Relations in the Spitzer Survey of Stellar Structure in Galaxies (S4G) 2012ApJ...753...43K
    A SINFONI View of Galaxy Centers: Morphology and Kinematics of Five Nuclear Star Formation-Rings 2008AJ....135..479B
    The Chandra COSMOS Survey. III. Optical and Infrared Identification of X-Ray Point Sources 2012ApJS..201...30C
    Spiral Inflow Feeding the Nuclear Starburst in M83, Observed in Hα Emission with the GHαFaS Fabry-Perot Interferometer 2008ApJ...675L..17F
    Pattern Speeds of Bars and Spiral Arms from Hα Velocity Fields 2009ApJ...704.1657F
    On the morphology of sigma-drop galaxies 2008A&A...485..695C
    On the Curvature of Dust Lanes in Galactic Bars 2009ApJ...706L.256C
    Discovery of ultra-compact nuclear rings in three spiral galaxies 2008A&A...478..403C
    AINUR: Atlas of Images of NUclear Rings 2010MNRAS.402.2462C
    The nature of late-type spiral galaxies: structural parameters, optical and near-infrared colour profiles and dust extinction 2009MNRAS.395.1669G

    Related talks

    No related talks were found.

    Related conferences

    No related conferences were found.